IDTA Dance Teacher Qualifications HELP!

[xgeorgiaa-xo]

My daughter has recently received her options form to choose what she would like to take for her GCSE exams and she would like to take History, Business Studies and either Dance or PE/Sport. 

 

She's always wanted to be some sort of teacher and although she wants to take dance rather than sport, I think that sport has more open opportunities and jobs for her. I want the best for her and I see that teaching PE has more opportunities. Also, the sport programme has some aspects of dance in it too. So - I was thinking that she could take sport for GCSE and seeing as shes been taking dance classes since she was 4 and still does now, she could pick up a dance teaching course so she can teach both sport and dance after her GCSE's or A-levels. 

 

Does anyone know if she can take teacher training course for dance even if she hasn't taken it for GCSE? Hopefully her dance school does IDTA teacher grade so she doesnt have to take a seperate course. 

 

Also - she only takes ballet lessons, so could she broaden her horizions even though she hasn't taken anything else that takes exams? She would like to teach tap, jazz, gymnastics dance, irish and cheerleading or freestyle/street dance. I know thats a lot and she doesn't neccersarily have to do all of them, but could she still do some sort of teacher qualification for it even though she has never done it, or take adult classes to go through the grades then take the teacher exam? 

 

Many Thanks!!

Edited February 6, 2014 by xgeorgiaa-xo

[FullContretemps]

Hi there,

 

I can't think of a dance teaching board that would have a prerequisite of GCSE dance, unless perhaps you are thinking of doing a University teaching course. The IDTA teaching seems to just be a matter of finding an IDTA member to coach you in what you need to know to take their Associate exams (Pre-associate 1 and 2 and Anatomy, then Associate exam. You are then qualified to teach up to Intermediate and can do further exams to qualify to teach the higher grades). You can take different pathways with them: the 'theatre' branch where you choose to specialise in ballet or tap or modern or theatre or the 'ballroom' branch which includes freestyle and some others. I think to do more than one style you would only have to retake the specialist bits (so not anatomy, for example) but not sure as I have never done it (I am just about to start on the ballet qualification).

 

More info here: http://www.idta.co.uk/Site2/Membership.html

 

It seems like a bit of a vague system from what I can gather, but it seems like the best way is to do it through an IDTA member who can help you. You could try ringing them if you have any questions although they didn't make it an awful lot clearer to me! I will try and answer if I know about any other questions, or I think there are others on here who have done the process. But in answer to whether she needs to do GCSE dance, I wouldn't think it matters at all - I don't have it, and I know the IDTA doesn't require it and neither does RAD (certainly for CBTS and I don't think for their degree in Ballet Teaching either). Though I suppose it might help give a theoretical background and make the other qualifications easier.

[Ellie]

No need for GCSE dance for dance teaching qualifications or even a degree. IDTA and ISTD have the widest range of genres for teaching (as far as I know) but obviously if your DD is with a school that follows the IDTA syllabus then the IDTA teaching qualification would make more sense, (but I thought you had to have passed the Intermediate exam in at least one of the genres....? - could be wrong). x

[Jan McNulty]

Hello xgeorgiaa-xo and welcome to the Forum.  I can't help you with your query but I am sure other members will be able to give you some information to add to that given by FullContretemps and Ellie.

 

Please let us know how your dd gets on.

[sarahw]

Maybe you could speak to a teacher at school who teaches dance? The dancing my dc does at high school does not seem to be technical in any way. Maybe teaching dance at high school requires a PGCE and therefore a degree? My dc dancing at high school is taught both by pe and dance teachers.

I can see why you want to keep as many options open as possible. ...

[Ellie]

Yes, to teach dance in a state schoo I think you would need a PGCE, although I do know someone who 'only' has a BA Hons from the RAD, but she's been at the school for years. If it's teaching dance in schools your DD is interested in then the PGCE route is probably more sensible (although much will probably have changed by the time she gets there !!) For private dance schools I'd say a qualification from a recognised dance organisation is more important.x

[xgeorgiaa-xo]

Thank you all for your feedback! Glad that DD doesn't have to take dance as she loves sport too, hopefully she will be able to take some form of teaching qualification when she's finished or during university - if she gets there hopefully! I will be asking my dance school when she reaches the teaching grade and she is currently on grade 5 (new syllabus which I've been told is a harder mix of grade 5 and 6, as she was in grade 6 before). Good thing is she is one of the youngest in her class - she's with many 15, 16 and 17 year olds! Thanks all for your help, will be surfing this forum more, so many friendly faces.

[FullContretemps]

Yes Ellie, I think you do have to have Intermediate to teach IDTA or RAD (don't know about ISTD), though possibly not if you're over 21 or something for IDTA which is a bit random!

[Legseleven]

You do need intermediate to pursue the RAD teaching qualification - I would have thought that intermediate is also required to pursue ISTD, BBO or IDTA teaching qualifications?

[RhodaKuc]

In order to pursue the IDTA Associate examination it is necessary to have taken the Intermediate examination if you are under 21.

If you are older you may take the Associate examination without actually taking the Intermediate exam.

You will however have studied the Intermediate syllabus in detail as discussion and practical demonstration of teaching this syllabus is required in the technical section of the Associate examination.

(Likewise with Advanced 1 for the Licentiate and Advanced 2 for the Fellowship examinations).

 

Hope this helps,

 

RK

[Legseleven]

Hi RhodaKuc, thank you for clarifying. What grade do you need to have passed to do the IDTA Associate teaching qualification at 21 or over? I have a friend whose DD may therefore be interested in pursuing IDTA teaching qualifications when she turns 21 but I think the last exam she took was grade 3 or 4 a few years ago, would this be enough?

[RhodaKuc]

Before one can actually take one's first Associate teaching examination it is usually ( there are exceptions, but these would be discussed with IDTA Head Office in advance) necessary to have passed an Anatomy and Physiology Diploma and to have studied the Grades Syllabus from Preparatory to Grade 2 which is assessed by taking the Pre-Associate Part 1 examination and likewise Grades 3 to 5 with assessment in the Pre-Associate Part 2 examination. So as you can see there is so much more to be considered other than which grade you have taken.

Even if you have passed exams to a higher level in another board you will still require in depth knowledge of the syllabus in order to discuss teaching methods and exercise build-ups etc.

In the case of someone who had only reached Grade 3-4 themselves I would think it essential to "catch up" in order to have the required knowledge and understanding of what is required to hone the correct ballet technique for the movements required before trying to communicate them to others.

These are just my thoughts - perhaps speaking to your DDs teacher would be useful.

Also if you contact the IDTA they would be able to put you in touch with one of the Ballet Faculty members who would be able to advise you in depth.

 

Hope I have been of help,

 

RK

[Legseleven]

Thank you! I will pass this on to my friend's DD so she can decided what she wants to do.